Computer program, method, and system for managing multiple data recording devices

• US 9,253,452 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Ross, Stanton E., Bowlin, Troy D., Andrews, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US13/967,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20150050003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 386200-234, 386239-248, 386358-362
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/027 Remotely controlled remote control systems in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/00 Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A multiple recording device management system including an intermediate multiple recording device managing apparatus, a vehicle recording device mounted in a police vehicle and synced to the managing apparatus, and a personal recording device carried by a police officer and wirelessly synced to the managing apparatus. The managing apparatus is operable to detect when the vehicle recording device, personal recording device, or any other synced device in range has begun recording and to transmit a communication signal to any synced recording device in range indicating that the recording device should begin recording and to further transmit a time stamp to synced recording devices for corroborating recorded data.

Claims

1. A recording device manager for use in a multiple recording device management system, the recording device manager comprising:

a controller including at least one receiver and at least one transmitter,

wherein said at least one receiver is operable to receive a first communication signal from a first recording device indicating the first recording device is recording an event,

wherein said at least one transmitter is operable to broadcast a second communication signal to at least a second recording device instructing the second recording device to begin recording the event,

wherein the second recording device is distinct from the first recording device and records a distinct set of record data from the first recording device,

wherein the second recording device is configured to be mounted on or configured to be carried by a law-enforcement officer,

wherein the second communication signal is transmitted to the second recording device in response to the receiver receiving the first communication signal from the first recording device indicating the first recording device is recording, such that the recording device manager insures the first and second recording devices both record the event,

wherein the first recording device and the second recording device begin recording substantially simultaneously with the broadcast second communication signal, and

wherein the recording device manager is incorporated into one of the first recording device and the second recording device.

2. The recording device manager of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of indicators; and

an input operable to temporarily disable the indicators so that the recording device manager enters a covert mode when the input is activated.

3. The recording device manager of claim 1, wherein the first recording device does not record audiovisual information.

4. The recording device manager of claim 1, wherein the first recording device is configured to be mounted on or carried by the law enforcement officer.

5. The recording device manager of claim 4, wherein the first recording device records audiovisual information and is configured to be worn on the law enforcement officer'"'"'s clothing.

6. The recording device manager of claim 1, wherein the first recording device records audiovisual information and is configured to be mounted to a law enforcement vehicle.

7. The recording device manager of claim 1, wherein the second communication signal further causes the second recording device to record a timestamp with the event.

8. The recording device manager of claim 7, wherein the timestamp is recorded as metadata for the event.

9. The recording device manager of claim 7,

wherein the event is recorded by the second recording device as audiovisual information, and

wherein the timestamp is recorded as a visual overlay on the audiovisual information.

10. A system for recording multiple viewpoints of an event, comprising:

a first recording device configured to be mounted on or configured to be carried by a law enforcement officer so as to record a first set of record data for the event;

a second recording device, distinct from the first recording device, located so as to record a second set of record data for the event, said first set of record data being distinct from the second set of record; and

a recording device manager operable to;

receive a trigger signal,

said trigger signal being at least one of activation of a law enforcement vehicle'"'"'s siren, activation of said law enforcement vehicle'"'"'s signal lights, activation of said law enforcement vehicle'"'"'s spotlight, a vehicle crash event, and a vehicle speed, and

broadcast, in response to receiving the trigger signal, at least one communication signal including correlation data to the first recording device and the second recording device instructing the first recording device to begin recording said first set of record data and instructing the second recording device to begin recording said second set of record data,

wherein the first recording device stores the correlation data as metadata for the first set of record data and the second recording device stores the correlation data as metadata for the second set of record data, such that the first set of record data and the second set of record data can be correlated back to the event,

wherein the first set of record data and the second set of record data are recorded beginning substantially simultaneously in response to the broadcast communication signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the correlation data comprises a timestamp.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the correlation data comprises a unique serial number.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the correlation data further comprises a timestamp.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication signal further instructs the first recording device to store pre-event recording data with the first set of record data.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein thirty seconds of pre-event recording data is stored.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication signal further instructs a third recording device to begin recording a third set of record data.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the correlation data transmitted to the first recording device and the correlation data transmitted to the second recording device are identical.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the second recording device does not record audiovisual information.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the trigger signal is caused by a user manually activating a third recording device.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the trigger signal is caused by an activation of a law enforcement vehicle'"'"'s signal lights.